How We’ve Been De-stressing Lately

Why must life be so stressful? Like, almost all the time?

We could spend all day talking about why, but we all know that’s not going to help anything or anyone. Instead, let’s discuss a couple of ways we’ve alleviated stress over the last couple of weeks!

The below is what has been working for us lately and may not be right for everyone. It’s important to remember that this is a day-by-day thing; it’s waaaaay more about the journey of de-stressing rather than reaching the destination of being stress-free.

Here we go:

Go for a walk/run. PJ has always enjoyed running, but lately he’s being running more and more to help him relax. Thomas can usually tell when PJ’s feeling stressed as soon as he utters the words “I’m going for a run.” before heading out the door to do a few laps around the block. It’s a great way to nurture your body and your state of mind. What could be better than fresh air and nature?

Meditate. Thomas has been meditating for the last two weeks and he can tell such a difference on the mornings he does it vs the ones he doesn’t. He does it after coffee and emails in the morning, and it’s such a refreshing way to start the day. He’s been using the app ‘Calm’ (for breathing only, since he hasn’t purchased the Premium package) and watching various YouTube videos. Focus, breathing, and relaxation are what he’s been focusing on, and it’s been really helpful so far.

CBD oil. We already told you about PJ’s experience taking CBD oil to help his anxiety, and he can tell a difference in his stress level, too.

Take a bath. It sounds cliche, but we’ve both been enjoying taking a bath at night lately. There’s something about the running water, the lavender and eucalyptus bath salts, and the quietness of a bath that reinvigorates your body, relaxes it, and calms you down for a slow and easy night.

Work in the yard. PJ has been working on our backyard for almost a month now and, while it’s something we’ve been meaning to do for almost two years, it’s actually been very therapeutic for him. He’ll spend hours out there, losing track of time and in his element, working hard and not thinking about anything else other than accomplishing his end goal for the yard. It’s great alone time and again, fresh air + nature. What else do you need?

Water the plants. Now that spring is here, it’s about time to bust out the ferns and flowers. One thing that Thomas has noticed over the last few years is how much he enjoys watering the plants, especially the ones we keep outside. It’s his time to decompress, think, relax, and just be for a little bit.

Keep a journal. We’ve received several journals from y’all recently and we are obsessed. It’s such a great way to reflect and allows you to be so much more self-aware. It’s also fun to read old entries and see how far you’ve come!

Those are just some of the things we’ve been doing the last few months. Do you have any tips & suggestions that we should try? How do you de-stress?